Source: FOOTYMAD
Sturrock: 'Southend United supporters certainly haven't seen the best of Peter Gilbert yet'
Forner Cobblers left-back Peter Gilbert left Northampton Town in a cloud before Aldershot Town visit Saturday. The club will delay surgery on Shrimpers left-back Peter Gilbert in case we get back in to play-off contention! Sturrock: 'You never know what could still happen this season'Poor old left-back Peter Gilbert has not only turned out for the Shrimpers with a groin injury over the last few months, he's currently out of the side with an ankle problem. And now Blues boss Paul Sturrock has confirmed that the 27-year-old needs a hernia operation but even so could return to the first team if required, fellow full-back Johnny Herd and emergency one Luke Prosser are both on the sidelines long term, to help any possible fight for a play-off place, something most Southend supporters have given up on. Sturrock told www.echo-news.co.uk: "Peter will need an operation to cure his injury problems but we won't be sending him in just yet. You never know what could still happen this season, and if we get a couple of good results and everything starts to look rosy again then we could well need him again before the end of the season. Because of that we will and see how the next few results go before deciding when he has surgery, but it's obviously disappointing news because he's had a few problems this year which have stopped his progress." I think we need more than 'one or two good results' for things to start looking rosy where the play-offs are concerned Luggy, maybe eight!The former Cobblers full-back, booed by the travelling Northampton support in the recent 1-1 draw at Roots Hall, has turned out 31 times for the Shrimpers this season, but it could have been higher without injuries and suspensions. Sturrock continued: "The Southend United supporters certainly haven't seen the best of Peter Gilbert yet. He's been playing with injury problems and has endured a real stop-start season. Northampton were gutted when he left there to join us and I think he might have been their player of the year. We've only seen glimpses of what he's capable of but with a proper pre-season behind him I think he will be a much better player next season, especially if he stays healthy." Many of the faithful will have to be convinced but it looks in the short term that Teddy Nesbitt will get a game or two more before any decisions are made regarding when Peter gets booked into Southend General.
